Mrs. Mardree Janet Harpole-White

Mardree Janet (Johnson) Harpole White was born on Saturday, April 21, 1916 in Huttig, Arkansas to James Wesley Johnson and Geneva (Dismuke Jones) Johnson. She was a Saturday child (Ama in Akan) who was wise and had a gentle equanimity about herself. As Mardree (also known as Jack) lived her life, Amas are generally happy, full of wisdom and are very spiritual. Mardree was a member of Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America when she was a young mother. She continued to love and revere God throughout her life. Mardree’s parents moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Mr. Johnson worked at Gray Iron Foundry. He also was an entrepreneur, which influenced Mardree (aka Jack). He bought Mr. Gray’s Grocery Store that was on 8th and Somers. Mr. Johnson rented bicycles, sold coal, and sold live chickens at the grocery store. The grocery store was sold to Taft Malone when Mardree decided not to run the store. Her mother, Geneva Johnson, was a seamstress. Instead of following in her mother’s footsteps, Mardree became a dental assistant, masseuse, and a salesperson at Routt’s Department Store. She loved working at Routt’s because she was also a fashionista. Mardree also bought several rental properties over the years. Mardree attended Lincoln High School, where she appeared in a play, and again appeared in plays as an adult. She loved theater and wanted to become an actress at one point in her life. She played the piano and sang Soprano. Mardree met Reuben K. Harpole, Sr. at Lincoln High School in Milwaukee. They married and had three children: Reuben K. Harpole, Jr., Gloria Nevetta Harpole and Mardree Jimmy Lee Harpole. They eventually divorced and she married Clifford White. Mardree loved life, her family and friends. She owned a large home on 1st Street and North Avenue, where over the years, various family members would live. She also housed borders. Eventually, she bought a second home in Caledonia (Racine County) overlooking Lake Michigan, where she hosted pool parties and gatherings for family and friends. She lived in her home on North Avenue until her early 90s, when she moved to Franciscan Villa in South Milwaukee. Mardree passed on from this life to a new life on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Franciscan Villa Nursing Home (South Milwaukee, WI). She was preceded in death by: her parents, James and Geneva Johnson; daughters, Gloria Nevetta Taylor and Mardree Jimmy Lee Hughes; grandchildren, Deborah Hughes, Timothy Hughes and Ricardo Dixon, Sr. Celebrating the memory of her life are: a son, Reuben K. Harpole, Jr. (Mildred); son-in-law, Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Dock L. Hughes, Sr.; seven grandchildren: Wilbur Dixon, Jr., Reuben Earl Hughes, Dock Hughes, Jr. (Julianna), Carmencita Hughes, Alyce Ryle (LaShawn), Annette Harpole and John Harpole (Gina Gabrielle); 21 great grandchildren: LaShawn Ryle, Jr., Desmond Earl Ryle, Jamal F. Ryle, Cedric (Latarra) Hughes, James T. Hughes, Chante Hughes, Deanna Hughes, Nina Smith, Marcita Hughes, Reggie Hughes, Geneva Patterson (Reginal), Tawanda Robinson, Koffi Hughes, Laine Hughes, Mase Hughes, Christopher Dixon, Misty Dixon, Kayla Dixon, Brandon Dixon, Ricardo Dixon, Jr., Geogianna Harpole and Elijah Harpole; 30 great-great grandchildren and six great-great-great grandchildren; close cousins: Jackie Greer, and Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor; other relatives, the Tubbs family, Lester Holley, the Childs family and the Dismukes; close friends, David Petrin and Versie Bates. Numerous other relatives and friends are left to cherish her memory.

Mrs. Mardree Janet Harpole-White

April 22, 1916 - September 1, 2015